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Muhammad: Man and Prophet
The Prophet Muhammad initiated one of the most significant religious and cultural developments in human history, bringing the religion of Islam to the world. Adil Salahi's compelling biography traces the life of the Prophet Muhammad from his birth and childhood to the triumph of Islam and its hold on Arabia. The author sets this against a fascinating historical backdrop. His careful analysis of the Prophet's life is written with today's Muslim and non-Muslim readers in mind: Muslims will further their comprehension of their faith, and non-Muslims will come to understand the love Muslims have for their Prophet.
854 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
162 people are currently reading
1697 people want to read
About the author
Adil Salahi
57 books50 followersShaykh Adil Salahi has a varied background in English Literature and Islamic Studies, with professional accolades that include institutions as diverse as the World Health Organisation and the Markfield Institute of Higher Education. Having studied under various scholars in Damascus, his experience resulted in certification from numerous teachers in the age-old tradition of Islamic juristic thought. His main career has been in broadcasting and print journalism, which has seen him spend time on Syrian radio and at the BBC Arabic Service.
For over 30 years he was the editor of Islam in Perspective, a twice-weekly full-page column in Saudi’s daily newspaper, the Arab News. His writings include the acclaimed Muhammad: Man and Prophet, the much lauded Pioneers of Islamic Scholarship, and an English translation of the Quran. More recently Shaykh Salahi penned Muhammad: His Character and Conduct, and he continues to publish in the Arab broadsheets, always offering his unique perspective on Islamic history and Quranic study.
For over 30 years he was the editor of Islam in Perspective, a twice-weekly full-page column in Saudi’s daily newspaper, the Arab News. His writings include the acclaimed Muhammad: Man and Prophet, the much lauded Pioneers of Islamic Scholarship, and an English translation of the Quran. More recently Shaykh Salahi penned Muhammad: His Character and Conduct, and he continues to publish in the Arab broadsheets, always offering his unique perspective on Islamic history and Quranic study.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 28, 2009
Best (English) review of the life of the final messenger, Muhammad bin Abdullah. Martin Lings' is based on "the earliest sources" and is more or less a no-frills account of the life of the Prophet from birth to his death. Haykal's version is probably my favourite because it gives more detail to the Prophet's life but that was before I read Adil Salahi's Muhammad: Man and Prophet. Salahi attempts to give more background to the many incidents during the early days of Islam and he also presents several convincing arguments that may not have crossed the minds of the average Muslim before. For example, the first migration to Habsyah (Abbyssinia or modern day Ethiopia) have always been regarded as an early attempt to save the poor Muslims who were tortured and persecuted but if that is true why didn't any of the former slaves who were tortured by the Quraysh fled to Habsyah? The African slave, Bilal, famously did not join the migration but those who did flee to Africa were some of the richest Arabs who embraced Islam. Salahi argues that this was a deliberate attempt by the Prophet to present to the king of Habsyah a good impression of Muslims and Islam. The king might not be so impressed with this 'new' religion if the refugees were the poor and the indentured. No other biography of the Prophet has ever presented that argument before. That is why Adil Salahi's biography of the Prophet is now my favourite. Sorry, Mr. Haykal.
October 16, 2007
Well written, but not as enjoyable as Martin Lings' Muhammad. Very detailed, which can be good if you have a background in seerah and want to learn more, or bad if you're still struggling to remember the difference between Quraysh and Bani Qurayza. Also disappointed with the apparent dry and scientific approach to the history, ignoring many of the miracles of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
July 29, 2017
This book is more of a 'hagiography' of Muhammad (saw) and the story of the birth of Islam, rather than a 'biography' in the academic sense of the word. Because of this, the book is less accessible to a general audience and more geared towards a Muslim audience that already shares many of the author's theological assumptions but wants to learn more about the Prophet's life in detail.
The level of detail in this work is impressive and probably one of the most comprehensive biographies of the Prophet available in English. I really appreciated how the author weaved Companions' accounts of details about the Prophet's life. The detail in this book is probably the shining point of this work.
At the same time, the level of detail often gets in the way of the overall narrative of the Prophet's life. The Prophet often disappears for several pages at a time in favor of long accounts about companions which a general audience might find largely unnecessary--e.g., accounts of how certain companions became Muslim, or how certain Companions displayed certain virtues. Not to mention that the author often pauses the narrative for paragraphs at a time to make theological elaborations about the significance of a certain event or to make moral elaborations about the Prophet's actions.
The book is riddled with subjective value judgements which were hard for me to tolerate, even as a Muslim. Should the book or the author ever pursue a larger audience, it would do well to lessen all these claims. The book also uses anachronistic terms to explain the context of 7th century Arabia. Occasional use of words like "national", "Bedouin terrorism", and "Muslim state", and other such terms are often used. I would have preferred for the author to explain the context of 7th century Arabia using terms more appropriate for its time and place.
Overall, it was a very informative read for me and I will keep this book for reference, but it is certainly no page turner. Although there are many shining moments in the book, the book doesn't read smoothly like a novel or the usual biography because the focus on the life of Muhammad (saw) is sometimes lost. The narrative suffers at the expense of too much detail sometimes, and too much pausing for theological elaborations and didactic moral commentary.
That being said, despite all the criticisms, this book was very dear to me as a believer because it familiarized me with the life of our beloved Prophet beyond conversations that focus only on apologetics and in dismantling polemics about his life. I got to learn details about his everyday life and character, and the virtue with which he led his life and captivated the lives of millions today.
Recommended mainly for Muslims or for academics who want an educated insider's Sunni-normative view of the Prophet's life. 7/10
The level of detail in this work is impressive and probably one of the most comprehensive biographies of the Prophet available in English. I really appreciated how the author weaved Companions' accounts of details about the Prophet's life. The detail in this book is probably the shining point of this work.
At the same time, the level of detail often gets in the way of the overall narrative of the Prophet's life. The Prophet often disappears for several pages at a time in favor of long accounts about companions which a general audience might find largely unnecessary--e.g., accounts of how certain companions became Muslim, or how certain Companions displayed certain virtues. Not to mention that the author often pauses the narrative for paragraphs at a time to make theological elaborations about the significance of a certain event or to make moral elaborations about the Prophet's actions.
The book is riddled with subjective value judgements which were hard for me to tolerate, even as a Muslim. Should the book or the author ever pursue a larger audience, it would do well to lessen all these claims. The book also uses anachronistic terms to explain the context of 7th century Arabia. Occasional use of words like "national", "Bedouin terrorism", and "Muslim state", and other such terms are often used. I would have preferred for the author to explain the context of 7th century Arabia using terms more appropriate for its time and place.
Overall, it was a very informative read for me and I will keep this book for reference, but it is certainly no page turner. Although there are many shining moments in the book, the book doesn't read smoothly like a novel or the usual biography because the focus on the life of Muhammad (saw) is sometimes lost. The narrative suffers at the expense of too much detail sometimes, and too much pausing for theological elaborations and didactic moral commentary.
That being said, despite all the criticisms, this book was very dear to me as a believer because it familiarized me with the life of our beloved Prophet beyond conversations that focus only on apologetics and in dismantling polemics about his life. I got to learn details about his everyday life and character, and the virtue with which he led his life and captivated the lives of millions today.
Recommended mainly for Muslims or for academics who want an educated insider's Sunni-normative view of the Prophet's life. 7/10
February 12, 2025
This biography of the Prophet Muhammad is very detailed as well as deeply rooted in an Islamic perspective, meaning it is much more pious and hagiographic than exactly scholarly. Nevertheless, for an extensive, faith-informed and Quranically-correct retelling of this great life, it’s a decent enough book.
My reasons for giving it only three stars are numerous, but off the bat they include its being just a bit too long, repetitive and boring. For a man who arguably united Arabia (and who the Muslims consider on par with Jesus - indeed, better, being the final, but emphatically human messenger of God. He sure did a lot of warmongering in his time. Granted, much of the fighting he engaged in and orchestrated was in defence of the new faith. But still, especially when we consider the amount of harsh criticism Christianity gets for destroying the Classical world of pagan, Greco-Roman culture, the Muslims seemed no less complicit in burning, intimidating and persecuting their polytheist neighbours.
This more or less hints at my second major reason for not loving the book. I just did not, I’m afraid, find myself able to say I fell in love with the Prophet. Without a doubt, he has his moments in this book. And I do not dispute that he was a very influential leader who transformed Arabia for the better, as well as instituting what is, I believe, a noble religion. But as he comes through in Salahi’s telling anyway, he is too enigmatic, too mercurial, too inconsistent to ever feel entirely detached from the myth of the perfect man as the god-fearing Arabs then envisioned him. If I was, for argument’s sake, to agree that the Muslim view of Jesus is correct and He was no more than a prophet (who for some reason, and under Allah’s spurious guidance, faked His crucifixion with a decoy, misleading his followers and thus paving the way for the false and damnable religion of Christianity), then I would still say Christ had so much more of a lasting, worldwide impact without shedding any blood. Not even His own, according to them.
It also just gets a little tiresome how the writer always feels the need to jump in and play indoctrinated press secretary for the Prophet’s less savoury moments. Many a time, despite being a "merciful and kind leader", he singles out certain prisoners of war for execution (don’t worry, the women and children are not slaughtered. They're just sold into slavery, which wasn’t as bad as it’s made out to be, according to the writer). There is the ongoing rationalisation of raiding and wiping out random Arab tribes because they were allegedly contemplating attacking the Muslims. The best form of defence is proactive offence. Kind of like a reversal of the concept in Minority Report. Things like this, as well as many other actions which usually involved violence, death and murder, are dealt with quickly by the writer, who essentially says, “Yeah, that was a little harsh, but ... well, this guy deserved it because …”
It’s just the kind of hypocrisy a non-believer needs to dismiss any religion and its adherents. But anyway, to wrap it up, I feel I should say I am kind of saddened to have not loved this book. I am also a little disappointed that as a result, my own view of Islam has been ever so slightly tempered. I still find it a fascinating and admirable religion. While this is not the time or place to expound deeply on my theological beliefs, I do still believe that Muhammad, as he once existed, was probably a genuine recipient of private revelation from God (via an angel or otherwise). But I do not think his message was intended to spread across the whole world to the extent that it would nullify all other religions. While it’s extremely dangerous and naive to say that everything is of God and thus permissible, I do think the majority of this world’s religions (especially, but not exclusively, the Abrahamic ones) have at least a spark of the divine in them. They are all different pathways to the same true and eternal home, which is God.
Being what I now appear to be - that is, a devout Catholic with yet a developing, maybe not always entirely consistent, universalist worldview - this book just didn’t really do it for me on a spiritual level, or even just in mere enjoyability. I am glad I have finally finished it.
My reasons for giving it only three stars are numerous, but off the bat they include its being just a bit too long, repetitive and boring. For a man who arguably united Arabia (and who the Muslims consider on par with Jesus - indeed, better, being the final, but emphatically human messenger of God. He sure did a lot of warmongering in his time. Granted, much of the fighting he engaged in and orchestrated was in defence of the new faith. But still, especially when we consider the amount of harsh criticism Christianity gets for destroying the Classical world of pagan, Greco-Roman culture, the Muslims seemed no less complicit in burning, intimidating and persecuting their polytheist neighbours.
This more or less hints at my second major reason for not loving the book. I just did not, I’m afraid, find myself able to say I fell in love with the Prophet. Without a doubt, he has his moments in this book. And I do not dispute that he was a very influential leader who transformed Arabia for the better, as well as instituting what is, I believe, a noble religion. But as he comes through in Salahi’s telling anyway, he is too enigmatic, too mercurial, too inconsistent to ever feel entirely detached from the myth of the perfect man as the god-fearing Arabs then envisioned him. If I was, for argument’s sake, to agree that the Muslim view of Jesus is correct and He was no more than a prophet (who for some reason, and under Allah’s spurious guidance, faked His crucifixion with a decoy, misleading his followers and thus paving the way for the false and damnable religion of Christianity), then I would still say Christ had so much more of a lasting, worldwide impact without shedding any blood. Not even His own, according to them.
It also just gets a little tiresome how the writer always feels the need to jump in and play indoctrinated press secretary for the Prophet’s less savoury moments. Many a time, despite being a "merciful and kind leader", he singles out certain prisoners of war for execution (don’t worry, the women and children are not slaughtered. They're just sold into slavery, which wasn’t as bad as it’s made out to be, according to the writer). There is the ongoing rationalisation of raiding and wiping out random Arab tribes because they were allegedly contemplating attacking the Muslims. The best form of defence is proactive offence. Kind of like a reversal of the concept in Minority Report. Things like this, as well as many other actions which usually involved violence, death and murder, are dealt with quickly by the writer, who essentially says, “Yeah, that was a little harsh, but ... well, this guy deserved it because …”
It’s just the kind of hypocrisy a non-believer needs to dismiss any religion and its adherents. But anyway, to wrap it up, I feel I should say I am kind of saddened to have not loved this book. I am also a little disappointed that as a result, my own view of Islam has been ever so slightly tempered. I still find it a fascinating and admirable religion. While this is not the time or place to expound deeply on my theological beliefs, I do still believe that Muhammad, as he once existed, was probably a genuine recipient of private revelation from God (via an angel or otherwise). But I do not think his message was intended to spread across the whole world to the extent that it would nullify all other religions. While it’s extremely dangerous and naive to say that everything is of God and thus permissible, I do think the majority of this world’s religions (especially, but not exclusively, the Abrahamic ones) have at least a spark of the divine in them. They are all different pathways to the same true and eternal home, which is God.
Being what I now appear to be - that is, a devout Catholic with yet a developing, maybe not always entirely consistent, universalist worldview - this book just didn’t really do it for me on a spiritual level, or even just in mere enjoyability. I am glad I have finally finished it.
November 26, 2022
There was no doubt always one religion on the face of the earth and it definitely will always be one sent by Allah. Many prophets (peace be upon them) had been sent to walk and preach this God gifted religion but the last and final one was the greatest human being of all time, prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Writing on this extraordinary character is not an easy task but the writer Adil Salahi proved to have grasping high level of historical phenomena not only about prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but also of that particular age enriched this book very much. What made the book exceptional is that the writer one the one had dealt very well to portray the life of the prophet (peace be upon him) since his birth to completion his prophetic mission and on the other hand tried to give us a vivid picture of what was going on on the surrounding areas. The writer to minimize the inaccuracy of the events quoted from so many different individuals that when readers like us keep eye on the book can easily differentiate why this particular biography is very unique than many. How our beloved prophet (peace be upon him) stood against oppression, went forward to give the rights of others, on the front line of the war as a bravest leader, back at home a gentle husband even how to deal a very small matter when linked to religion are given in depth in the book. The only tiny thing I missed a little in the first half of the book is to raise my emotion that could've been lifted sky high like Martin Lings or Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri were able to touch. But obviously this book is an amazing one for the one passionate to explore the life of the prophet (peace be upon him in depth.
January 25, 2012
- Really took you back in time
- A good read for people with no prior Islamic knowledge
- Excellent writing style
- A good read for people with no prior Islamic knowledge
- Excellent writing style
January 23, 2016
A novel-like biography of Muhammad. Was a very enjoyable read at the time.
March 6, 2018
My favourite Seerah book! A must read once a year.
January 5, 2015
This was a wonderful Seerah, however, it is not a Seerah I would recommend to any one. The Seerah at times is more repetitive then it should be, there seems to be a desire by the Author to make his point in multiple different ways, all within the span of the chapter, without really needing to. It was cumbersome to read, and at times all I wanted was for him to get to the point and get me to the heart of the matter. Also, there were significant contradictions in terms of how things were presented. Where Salahi took great pains to explain things were later glossed over with a totally one sided explanation in other parts. Finally, a major contention I had with Salahi's seerah was that he goes to great lengths to explain how certain aspects of the Seerah should be taken with a grain of salt and then dismisses them outright a few sentences later, he doesn't do so with great care in other aspects of the Seerah. I found myself most perplexed when I was expecting to find supporting hadith or other material of explanation but was left reading how "as believers we should just accept it at face value" (this is my summation of how I felt, not the language Salahi used).
Regardless, I wouldn't discount the Salahi's work. Having now had two sets of notes from his Seerah, I found that in comparison to other Seerah's he goes to great lengths to incorporate stories and certain aspects that I just have not come across elsewhere. This is what sets Salahi's seerah apart from others and why I give it that fourth star. If only it were more succinct and not so repetitive, I could truly then justify that fifth star.
Regardless, I wouldn't discount the Salahi's work. Having now had two sets of notes from his Seerah, I found that in comparison to other Seerah's he goes to great lengths to incorporate stories and certain aspects that I just have not come across elsewhere. This is what sets Salahi's seerah apart from others and why I give it that fourth star. If only it were more succinct and not so repetitive, I could truly then justify that fifth star.
August 26, 2013
Adil salahi imports you to the life of the prophet as if you were right next to him throughout his whole life. The book makes you feel what you can only imagine how the people around him felt. It's as if we can share his thoughts, feelings and experiences. It goes beyond a window view of his life but a holding hand kind of experience( if you know what I mean).
Most importantly the prophet is not just a prophet in this book he is a human being. We can empathise with him without feeling he is far too superior for us to relate to or overly sensationalised. That's what clinched it for me that ultimately he was human like us.
Most importantly the prophet is not just a prophet in this book he is a human being. We can empathise with him without feeling he is far too superior for us to relate to or overly sensationalised. That's what clinched it for me that ultimately he was human like us.
July 21, 2007
This book engulfs you in the life of Arabia. Like never before, you get a really upclose and personal view of how amazing and strong the tribes were.
It doesn't just note facts and happenings. It intertwines them and tells a story. A most enchanting story. It was bitter sweet with the triumphs and the disappointments.
It analyzes-the best part!
The part about the reasons for the immigration to Abissiniya is a must read.
It doesn't just note facts and happenings. It intertwines them and tells a story. A most enchanting story. It was bitter sweet with the triumphs and the disappointments.
It analyzes-the best part!
The part about the reasons for the immigration to Abissiniya is a must read.
August 21, 2007
Adil Salahi provides us here with a captivating and vivid account of the life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of God upon him) full of details. i like the modern and novel-like style which made reading easier - as the stories and descriptions of historical events could have become lengthy. I only regret that he didn't provide with more details sources of many the stories he relates but it still makes this book one of the most readable accounts so far.
September 19, 2011
I believe this is one of the most comprehensive English seerahs (biographies) of the Prophet s.a.w (peace be upon him). I'm glad I started with this one. The language is very readable. However, I personally think it would be more brilliant if it detailed the contribution and importance of the family members (ahlul bayt) in the Prophet s.a.w sacred life's journey.
May 7, 2013
This was the first biography I read on the prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I really enjoyed Adil Salahi's flow and his particular names for the chapters.
It's a tragedy that most people don't know about this book because it's generally overshadowed by Martin Lings or The Sealed Nectar(not to take anything away from their works).
It's a tragedy that most people don't know about this book because it's generally overshadowed by Martin Lings or The Sealed Nectar(not to take anything away from their works).
September 13, 2011
it took two years but i finally finished it. because of all the time it took, i feel like i can't give this book anything less than 5 stars.
June 7, 2014
I've learned a ton of new things about my religion and it's history thanks to this marvelous book. So thankful to Imam Suhaib Webb for recommending it!
August 25, 2024
Wow! Single word, perfect!
Muhammad: Man and Prophet is the best biography book of the Prophet I have read in my life. The narration is perfectly clear. I have read it without any issue even though English is not my native language. It is really easy to follow all the timings, events, people of the time, everything. All the incidents have their references which makes the book highly reliable. One of the best things about the book is that the author studies and explains all the debated and vague incidents with historic references and logic. Many Prophetical biographies falls into the trap of focusing on "miracles". Muhammad (peace be upon him) surely performed miracles, but he was first a man, than the prophet. Already, carrying out the message of Islam and demonstrating his humane/mortal side as an example to all Muslims at the same time is the utmost miracle itself. I think this perspective is fundamental to understand the true essence of Islam and the Prophet of Islam.
To summarize, the book is a perfect resource to learn about the life of the Prophet of Islam. The book truly reflects its title by focusing on his both humane and prophetical aspects. If you are looking for a biography book of The Prophet with a historian's perspective, no need to look for it anymore, this is your book!
Muhammad: Man and Prophet is the best biography book of the Prophet I have read in my life. The narration is perfectly clear. I have read it without any issue even though English is not my native language. It is really easy to follow all the timings, events, people of the time, everything. All the incidents have their references which makes the book highly reliable. One of the best things about the book is that the author studies and explains all the debated and vague incidents with historic references and logic. Many Prophetical biographies falls into the trap of focusing on "miracles". Muhammad (peace be upon him) surely performed miracles, but he was first a man, than the prophet. Already, carrying out the message of Islam and demonstrating his humane/mortal side as an example to all Muslims at the same time is the utmost miracle itself. I think this perspective is fundamental to understand the true essence of Islam and the Prophet of Islam.
To summarize, the book is a perfect resource to learn about the life of the Prophet of Islam. The book truly reflects its title by focusing on his both humane and prophetical aspects. If you are looking for a biography book of The Prophet with a historian's perspective, no need to look for it anymore, this is your book!
April 9, 2018
Probably one of the best books written in English relating the story of our Prophet peace be upon him. For muslims that are not native Arabic speakers, this book is a must-read as it relates the overall story of Mohammed peace be upon him, in a very clear and structured fashion. It talks more about the major events than other details. It also voices the personal opinions of the author on some events that create a bit of controversy, and are used by non-muslims as a means to look down on Islam. However, I found that the author didn't succeed in giving sound and objective arguments against these negative views. I think he should have probably refrained from argumenting at all, in order not to open the door for the "logicians" to counter-argument. I personally think this book is geared towards muslims who want to learn more about the life of the prophet peace be upon him, and not towards non-muslims who aren't familiar with the principles of Islam yet.
July 2, 2021
Very long and very dense with people and places; 46 decent sized chapters is no joke. It would have been great if there was an overall timeline, or one with each chapter or every few chapters. A family tree and map of places (based on “current day” country lines would have been great, too.
With that being said — if you already have a small foundation in understanding Islam, and a decent sense of SWANA/MENA geography, this will be enriching for your mind to take in. The content is timeless; there is much food for thought when considering how diplomacy and war is facilitated today, the notion of community, elected leaders vs. communal, ego, and communication methods. I took various notes in the margins and highlighted while reading. This is definitely going next to my Qur’an on the bookshelf.
With that being said — if you already have a small foundation in understanding Islam, and a decent sense of SWANA/MENA geography, this will be enriching for your mind to take in. The content is timeless; there is much food for thought when considering how diplomacy and war is facilitated today, the notion of community, elected leaders vs. communal, ego, and communication methods. I took various notes in the margins and highlighted while reading. This is definitely going next to my Qur’an on the bookshelf.
February 16, 2024
A very detailed account of the life of the prophet of Islam, with lots of original quotes from primary biographers, that illuminates his personality and achievements in the proper light. I recommend it to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Would give it a 5-star if the author could avoid some redundancy by structuring the book better.
May 23, 2020
The book traces the life of the central figure in Islam from his birth to the rise of prominence of Islam
May 14, 2021
"May God reward the Prophet Muhammad, His last Messenger, and grant him peace and blessings"
A very good biography of the Prophet Muhammad, from his early days to his death.
A very good biography of the Prophet Muhammad, from his early days to his death.
July 22, 2022
Allahu akbar. This is very good read!!! Alhamdulillah i was stumbled upon this book when im at my lowest!! SubhanAllah....
August 26, 2022
this book is for all those interested in knowing the life of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and people around him. Well penned and detailed.
July 25, 2024
Extremely detailed account of all major events in Prophet Muhammad (SAW) lifetime. Gives adequate details to give the reader context of all major events and decisions.
December 15, 2024
For anyone looking for a free PDF copy. https://islamicbulletin.org/en/ebooks...
August 12, 2021
Mixed Feelings
Summary: This is an excellent seerah book, which should be read as a companion book to others. The theme of this book is about the political aspects to the life of Muhammad (pbuh). Therefore, do not expect much information about his interaction with his family and friends. Those are kept to the bare minimum.
I started off reading this book and loving it. Then around the "Treaty of Hudaybia" period, the tone of the book starts to change...
What I liked:
- First half of the book is easy to read, and would be easy for a non-Muslim audience to read as their first seerah book.
- First half of the book provides the necessary context for events
- More emphasis on Zayd ibn Harithah than other seerah books that I've read.
- Correction of the misconceptions around the judgement of the Bani Quraytha
- Many new insights and corrections of events.
- Reference list at the end of each chapter
What I didn't like:
- This book seems to have a bit of a split-personality. Post-Hudaybia it seems like it was written by a different author.
- There's a lot of "small" events mentioned in this book, where more important events and interactions were omitted.
- The first part was an easy read but, I started to skim in the second part because the author would spend a lot of time in repetition.
- There are certain fiqhi (sacred law) claims made that aren't substantiated in the book itself
Summary: This is an excellent seerah book, which should be read as a companion book to others. The theme of this book is about the political aspects to the life of Muhammad (pbuh). Therefore, do not expect much information about his interaction with his family and friends. Those are kept to the bare minimum.
I started off reading this book and loving it. Then around the "Treaty of Hudaybia" period, the tone of the book starts to change...
What I liked:
- First half of the book is easy to read, and would be easy for a non-Muslim audience to read as their first seerah book.
- First half of the book provides the necessary context for events
- More emphasis on Zayd ibn Harithah than other seerah books that I've read.
- Correction of the misconceptions around the judgement of the Bani Quraytha
- Many new insights and corrections of events.
- Reference list at the end of each chapter
What I didn't like:
- This book seems to have a bit of a split-personality. Post-Hudaybia it seems like it was written by a different author.
- There's a lot of "small" events mentioned in this book, where more important events and interactions were omitted.
- The first part was an easy read but, I started to skim in the second part because the author would spend a lot of time in repetition.
- There are certain fiqhi (sacred law) claims made that aren't substantiated in the book itself
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March 31, 2007in my opinion, the best english seerah book
June 1, 2009
hasil hunting Minggu 31 Mei 2009
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August 28, 2014dunno yet
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews